Kiss a Frog (The Book Club Series 1) (10 page)

“Did I make you believe me?” Luca ground out.

Lily nodded, twisting her arms to reach behind her back and unclasp her bra. She hurriedly tossed the lace to the side and hooked her thumbs in her panties. Shimmying them down, she turned and crawled up on the bed, lying back on her pillows.

“I’m ready.” She panted, realizing even as the words left her mouth she sounded needy and pathetic.

He laughed softly. “Not even close, sweetheart. I want you dripping wet for me.”

“I’m already there,” Lily moaned. “I want you now.”

“No.”

“No?” Lily propped herself up on her arms and stared him down.

“No. Not yet.” Luca began unbuttoning his shirt, and she couldn’t breathe as each button slipped free from the confines of the tiny buttonhole. Luca was ripped, chiseled, a veritable God with muscles on top of muscles. She fought the urge to lick each divot and indention. He shrugged off the shirt and his pants, socks, and shoes went next.

Lily’s eyes worshipped his body. It was obvious that he took great care of himself. “I want you.”

“Soon,” Luca promised, placing a knee on the bed.

Lily wantonly spread her legs. “Come here.”

“Tempting, but not yet. Do you have some condoms, Lily?” He pressed a soft kiss to her inner ankle, and Lily hissed at the electricity that coursed through her at the simple touch.

“Yes, top drawer of my dresser.” She winced thinking of him pawing through her panties and the color left her face as he pulled out her vibrator.

“I might have need of this.” Luca smiled, placing the vibrator beside the bed along with three condoms.

“Three?” Lily squeaked.

“Yeah,” Luca responded. “Three.”

Chapter Ten

If the Apartment is Rockin’…

His mouth descended to her ankle again, and Lily lost the ability to focus as he trailed slow, tender kisses up her thigh. Just as she thought he would bury his face into her wetness, he teased her with a flicker of his tongue and darted to the other thigh, trailing kisses down that leg.

“Damn you.” Lily panted. He laughed, and it infuriated her more. “Don’t laugh at me.”

“But you’re sexy when you’re mad. Roll over.”

Lily flipped to her belly and as his tongue traced circles on her calves, she clenched. “You’re teasing me.”

“Yeah.”

“I want…”

“Sweetheart, I know what you want, and I’m going to give it to you…later,” Luca breathed, nibbling the tender skin behind her knee.

“Ohhhh.” Lily couldn’t stop from moaning.

“Get on your knees and come to the edge of the bed.” Luca kissed her thigh.

Lily scrambled to do what he asked. “How do you want me?” She assumed he would put on a condom and have his way with her.

“Lean back against my chest,” Luca murmured, and Lily eased her legs apart and leaned back against his hard chest.

He kissed down the side of her neck and his hands cupped her breasts. “Mmm,” Lily hummed as his fingers plucked at her nipples.

“You’re so sexy,” he whispered, nibbling her shoulder. His hands swept ever lower, skimming over her belly, and then finally his fingers toyed with her pussy. She spread her legs wider, begging silently for him to touch her there. Her clit throbbed mercilessly, and she arched up with her hips, grinding against his motionless hand.

“Please, Luca,” she sobbed out, grabbing his hand and pushing his fingers between her damp lips.

“So wet.”

Lily reached up and grabbed his head, pulling his mouth to her shoulder. “Bite me again.”

“Like this?” He gently scraped his teeth against her skin, and she shuddered.

“Yes,” she moaned. She arched into his hand, setting the pace for his fingertip circling her throbbing clit. His other hand came back to her breast, and he rolled her nipples between his fingertips. The three sensations brought her closer to the precipice of orgasm. “Oh! Don’t stop, Luca,” she pleaded.

His fingers moved faster and his lips and tongue worked at her neck and shoulder. Lily’s head fell back against his chest, and she rocked into his fingers faster and harder, seeking her release. The powerful orgasm overtook her at last, and she shuddered forward onto her hands and knees, aftershocks coursing through her quivering thighs. “Luca!”

He caressed her hip. “I need you.”

“Then take me.”

She looked back over her shoulder as he ripped open the condom and rolled it over himself. His fingertips were bruising as he gripped her hips firmly. Lily bit her bottom lip as he positioned the head of his cock into her pussy. He pushed deep into her, and she sobbed out in pleasure as he buried himself to the hilt in her heat with one firm thrust.

“Yes!” she screamed. “Take me.”

Luca gave her no mercy as he took her body, each thrust powerful and firm, his thighs slapping into her ass with a satisfying thud. Lily gripped the comforter and buried her screams into the mattress. She came around him again, tightening and quivering with pleasure. Luca gripped her hips harder, and she loved the slight pain with all the pleasure. She knew she’d have bruises from his grip tomorrow, but she didn’t care. She wanted him, wholly and completely.

“Come again,” Luca demanded, his voice coarse and harsh.

“Yes!” Lily slid a hand between her legs, and she toyed with her clit, circling and rubbing the sensitive nub as he pounded into her.

His movements became faster and harder, and Lily could barely catch her breath. As he pumped into her again, a rough, shuddering motion that signaled his release, Lily rubbed her clit harder and screamed out as she followed him to ecstasy.

Lily felt boneless and as he withdrew, she collapsed on her belly. He disappeared into the bathroom, and she could hear the sink running. Her eyes slipped closed, and she dozed.
Oh, Luca, you were the sex I was after…

She barely opened her eyes as Luca shifted her on the bed, and she curled into him instinctively as he lay beside her. “You feel good,” she murmured, yawning and snuggling into him.

“Ah, Lily,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her head.

Lily had never really been one to like a guy staying over unless they were dating, but something about Luca just felt right. She didn’t want him to go, and she didn’t have the energy to tell him to stay, so she draped her body over his. His heartbeat strummed in her ear and soon she knew nothing but the silence of sleep.

At some point in the night she woke to feather soft kisses to her face. “Luca?”

“I’m here,” he whispered.

She lost herself in his kisses and woke quickly as his mouth grew insistent upon hers. The desire she’d felt earlier sprang to the surface, and she clung to him. He’d promised they’d need three condoms, and he seemed ready to make use of the second. Lily let herself go in the moment of passion, not considering how she’d feel tomorrow. No, it was one of those times when the only thing that mattered was the two of them tangled between the sheets of her bed. The rest of the world ceased to exist.

All she could feel were his roughened hands worshiping her flesh, his mouth nipping and biting along her neck, and his cock pressing along her thigh. “Don’t stop,” she breathed weakly.

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to,” he promised.

Her nipples hardened in the cool of the room, and as his warm mouth ensnared them, she cried out in pleasure. His fingertips teased down her belly, and he shifted to her side, his mouth claiming hers again as he stroked her heat. First one finger dipped inside her, then two, a slow stroke upward and a withdrawal, to circle around her clit and repeat the motion.

Her breath hitched as he moved faster, his tongue mimicking his hand. Soon she forgot to breathe. Crying out hoarsely as she came, his name was the only thing on her lips. Gentle kisses were pressed to her neck, and he held her as she came down from the dizzying height.

“I want you.”

Lily gripped his shoulders and pulled him down for another kiss. “Then I’m yours.”

She could barely make him out in the dusk as he slipped off the bed to put on a condom, but soon he was back, and Lily opened her legs to welcome him.

“I want you to ride me,” he growled.

Lily shivered at the heat in his voice and crawled to her knees as he lay back on the pillows. She carefully straddled him and moaned as his cock slipped deep inside her. Planting her hands on his chest, she rocked up and down, her motions frantic as she took him. His hands came to her hips, gripping her tightly again, and she relished the roughness. Luca was everything she’d ever wanted in a lover, fiery, passionate, rough but tender all at the same time.

The realization that he was perfect rocked her even as she came undone around him. She panted and leaned back, a guttural groan coming from her throat. She shrieked as he rolled them suddenly, pinning her body with his own.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

“I’m not.” Luca slowed his thrusts and kissed her softly.

“More.” She panted.

“Let me love you.”

Lily knew then that something had shifted between them. She couldn’t say she was in love with Luca, but the way he made her feel was different than anyone else ever had. She clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder, and tears filled her eyes.
What the hell is wrong with me?

Luca pulled back, as if somehow knowing she was scared and sad. “Lily?”

He couldn’t see her face, but she smiled brilliantly anyway. “Yeah?”

“Do you want me to stop?”

She shook her head no and pulled him down to kiss her. “No,” she breathed against his mouth.

Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as he claimed her, each slow, aching thrust into her body burning through her defenses until she lay stripped bare before him. She’d never had a lover who had undone her so completely, and the somber realization that she might never again broke her heart.

She kissed him again, her tongue dancing with his, and she twined her legs around his waist, holding him close. He groaned her name into her mouth as he came, and she held him until he stilled. He came up on his forearms, and Lily shifted her head away from him.

“Talk to me.”

“It just felt…different,” Lily murmured.

“It did,” he admitted.

“I-I think you should go,” Lily choked out around the emotion clogging her throat.

“Lily…”

“Go, please. I can’t feel like this. It’s too much. I’m going to throw up.” Lily pushed him off her and ran for the bathroom, slamming the door and skidding to the toilet to throw up. She heaved over the porcelain god, losing her dinner. She sobbed as she puked, her nerves getting the better of her and terrifying her.

Luca had made love to her, and she’d felt connected to him in a way she’d never felt connected to another human being before. Any other man in her twenty-nine years she’d had sex with had just been a quick orgasm, but this, this was two souls connecting on another plane of consciousness, and she wasn’t ready for something like that.

Once she felt empty, she stood and cleaned herself up. Opening the door, tears filled her eyes as she found him gone. A part of her had wanted him to stay, but the other was glad he was gone. She fell into bed and curled up on her side. Sobs shook her as she cried into her pillow.

Highway of Regret

Lily stood in line at the coffee shop in the mall, ready and willing to drown her regrets in a huge cup of coffee. Her sleep had been broken, and when she woke to see a condom still sitting on the nightstand, she’d throbbed in spite of herself, wishing she hadn’t sent him away. But things had turned from heat to sweet just a little too fast, and she couldn’t process it all yet.

“What can I get you, Lily?” the barista asked.

“Something big, strong, and full of caffeine,” she grumbled.

“You look like shit. Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better.” Lily ran her hands through her tangled hair and pulled it back from her face with a pony tail holder from her wrist.

“Here. Have a grande mocha, on the house.” The girl smiled at her, and Lily tried to smile back.

“Thanks.”

She hurried to work and opened up shop for the day. She didn’t even want to face Olivia, but in bopped the perky girl an hour after the store opened.

“Morning, Lily. So what did you think of my bro—whoa, you look like shit.” Olivia rushed to the counter.

“That seems to be the consensus. Your brother is very nice,” she murmured brusquely.

“Oh, no. I know that look. No, no, no. You didn’t fall in love with my brother. Please tell me you didn’t fall in love with Luca. Shit,” Olivia groaned.

“What? Fall in love with him?” Lily snorted. “I think that’s a bit much.”

“Oh, your lips say one thing and your eyes another. You can’t fall in love with my brother,” Olivia warned.

“Well, there’s no concern there. I’m not in love with him.”

Olivia shook her head firmly and hurried to the back presumably to clock in. She came back a few moments later. “My brother works for the FBI,” she hissed, her voice low so none of the customers would hear.

“I know that. He told me.”

Olivia’s brown eyes went wide. “Luca
told
you?”

“Yes, he was watching some mob guy last night,” Lily whispered back. “It’s no big deal, okay, I’m not in love with him.”

“Lily, he never tells people that. Ever. Why would he tell you…unless he’s in love with you too? Oh my God, he’s in love with you!” She squealed and clamped a hand over her mouth as she sobered. “I was thinking you two would just go on a date and that would be that… It’s too dangerous for him to really get involved with someone, at least right now... The only reason the mob doesn’t look at us is because Luca has a different last name since we have different dads, and we never meet in the city. Well, at least not too often. I told him to be careful. He promised me he would be.”

“Wait. So, I’m in danger? Oh so that’s what you meant by saying he was dangerous! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I hope not. You two just went to dinner and a movie, right? And I didn’t really tell you because honestly my brother needs to get out and mingle with people. I am an idiot, okay? My mom is about to lose her mind to get grandbabies, and I figured you would go out with him… Maybe you two would have sex, and that would be that. I doubt you’re in danger, I mean the mob usually targets people that are really close to those who are giving them trouble. So, if you guys just went for dinner… You’re fine.”

“Wait what, the mob? Yeah that’s all we did, just go to dinner. Right,” Lily lied through her teeth.
No, your brother came to my house and fucked me so hard I can barely walk today, and he made me feel…things.

“Yeah, the mob. He’s trying to take down a cell here in Boston. You should be safe. I’ll just tell him the next time he sees you to take you out of the city. Until he busts this guy, he has to be careful. He knows better.” Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.

“There won’t be a next time,” Lily said firmly, skirting around the younger girl to help a customer.

The busyness of the day kept them apart until late afternoon when Olivia nudged her and hissed, “Why won’t there be a next time?”

Lily shrugged as if she didn’t care at all. “We just didn’t connect.”

“Oh. Crap. Well, that’s okay. I won’t push it then. Man, my mom will be totally bummed, but I guess it’s for the best he doesn’t really connect with anyone until this job is done.”

Lily panicked while she helped teenagers pick out clothes.
The mob? Oh my God… He came to my house. He came to my house. He came…to my house! Why didn’t she tell me I needed to be careful? Why did he come to my house? Okay, I know why he came to my house, but it was stupid, especially if he doesn’t even see his family in town. What if I end up swimming with the fishes? Mob guys do that, right? Ah, shit.

She watched the clock, counting down the seconds until she could close the store and haul ass for home. Her fingers itched to pull out her phone and call Laura and Abby, to tell them everything that was going on, but she couldn’t just break rules on the floor. With five minutes left until closing, she waited on the last customer and began breaking down her till, praying that no one else came in.

Olivia touched her arm, and Lily shrieked and jumped. “What?”

“Are you
sure
you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. Let’s get closed down, okay?”

“Sure.” Olivia turned away quickly, and they shut down the store. Lily didn’t even acknowledge the girl as she left for home. Instead, she followed behind her, locking the door and sliding down the bars.

Lily hoped her imagination was just overactive and that nothing bad would happen.
I mean, really, it was just one date. It will be fine.
She rushed for the parking lot and darted to her car. Her fingers trembled as she jerked her phone from her purse and began dialing Abby’s number.

“Hello?” Abby answered.

“Abby, I—” She jumped as a hand touched her arm. Spinning quickly, she gasped as she saw Luca standing there. “I’ll call you back.”

“Get in your car and go home,” Luca demanded roughly. “Go straight inside and lock your door.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you don’t even see your family in town? Why didn’t you tell me you were trying to take down the freaking
mob
? I could
die
!”

“Hush. Olivia told me your name, and I looked you up. I knew who you were by your online profiles, and I couldn’t just blow off a date with you. I lied saying I didn’t know it was you. Yes, I’m trying to take down some guys here… but I figured one date wouldn’t hurt. I had to see you again. I needed to see you again, Lily. I slipped up, okay? I messed up. But I need you to trust me right now. Get in your car and go straight home. Please,” Luca begged, his hands coming up to grip her arms.

“Don’t touch me!” Lily snapped, pulling from his grasp.

“That’s not what you said last night.”

“Last night I was a fool.”

“No, I was. I was stupid thinking I could have something with a girl like you while I’m trying to bring down some of the biggest mob bosses in Boston. I put you in danger. I have to back off now. I’m going to go back to Washington DC. I have to make them think I’m giving up, and then you’ll be safe, okay, Lily?”

“That’s stupid! You’re going to give up fighting crime because someone might try to hurt me? No one is going to bother me.” Lily snorted. “I think you’ve watched too much
Law and Order
.” She opened her car door and turned to sit in her seat.

Before she bent her knees, Luca grasped her arms and jerked her into his chest. “Listen to me. These men are dangerous.”

“Just like you.”

“No, they’ll cut your throat and watch you bleed out with a smile on their face. Me? I’ll just make you fall in love with me. Neither of those you need. Neither of those
I
need right now. So listen to me. Go home, Lily. Forget my name. Forget my kiss. Forget my touch. Forget I existed. Then you’ll be safe.” Luca insisted.

Lily gulped and nodded. “I’ll go home.”

“Good.”

“What about Olivia?” she whispered, worried for her friend.

“She won’t work with you anymore. We have to keep our distance. No connections. No loose ends. I’m going to convince her to come to DC with me. I’ve been working on my parents too. I’m going home and telling them what’s going on. We’re leaving tonight, one way or the other. Goodbye, Lily. Without me here, you’ll be safe.” Luca turned to leave, and Lily reached for him, grabbing at his leather jacket.

“What will happen to you?”

“I’ll probably be demoted to a desk job. But it’s my own fault. Who knew a girl puking on my shoes would be my downfall? Take care of yourself. It was fun while it lasted.” Luca jerked away from her grasp and disappeared into the night. Lily stood silently for a moment beside her car before sliding behind the wheel and locking all the doors.

Jamming the key into the ignition, she blew out a breath and started the car. Her tears started as soon as she pulled out of the parking lot.
I’ll never see him again. I’ll never, ever see Luca De Soros again.
She wiped at her eyes and pulled her phone from her pocket.

Dialing Abby, she sniffled and tried to stay on the road. “Abby?” She sobbed as her best friend picked up.

“What the hell is going on? You’re crying.”

“I need you guys. Please. Meet me at the apartment.”

She hung up and parked in her spot, eyeballing the dusk as she exited the car. Running at breakneck speed, she hurried up the stairs and into her building. Every creak and rustle in the building made her jump, and she was in a panic by the time she made it to her door. Unlocking it, she slipped inside and threw the bolt.

She screamed as a knock came at the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s us, you twit!” Abby called.

“Oh, thank God,” Lily opened the door and let her best friends in.

“What the hell is going on? Were you expecting the boogie man?” Abby giggled.

Lily nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Finally, she swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yeah, kinda.” She flopped on the couch and rubbed her eyes. “Last night I went on a date with my co-worker’s brother.”

“Why didn’t you tell us so we could help you get ready?” Laura gasped, her eyes huge in her face. “Was he hot?”

“Oh…very.” Lily blushed hot.

“Okay…so he was hot. You obviously had sex because your face is strumpet red.” Abby smirked.

“We did,” Lily admitted.

“Ooh! Lily got laid! Was it good?” Laura squealed, bouncing up and down on the couch.

“It was…amazing. Unnerving. I-I have never…” Lily trailed off, blushing harder.

“Oh my God, you love him!” Abby screeched.

“No! What? No. It’s not going to work out anyway. He’s an FBI agent, and he put me in danger. He’s hauling ass with his family back to DC hoping that if he takes the heat off them that they won’t bother me.” Lily waved her hand in the air as if brushing away something inconsequential.

Abby and Laura sat silent for a moment, their faces twin pictures of shock. Abby spoke first. “Who won’t bother you?”

“The mob.” Lily shrugged. “No one is going to bother me. I tried to tell him that he was watching too much Law and Order, but he was insistent that he had to go. It’s all well and good anyway, we weren’t going to work.”

“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Abby whispered.

“What?”

“The mob is a big deal. Haven’t you ever seen
The Godfather
?” Laura breathed.

“I’m not concerned. I’m just going to work. Oh, by the way, guess who’s a manager now?” Lily informed them.

“That’s great!” Laura squealed, hugging her tight.

“I knew you’d be a manager, but that doesn’t make me forget this mob business.” Abby sighed.

“It’s not a big deal. I’m not worried.”

“Right, that’s why you screamed like a nun getting felt up by a priest when we knocked on the door.” Abby huffed, rolling her eyes.

“It’s not a huge deal. It’s going to be fine. Everything will be fine.” Lily reassured them.

“Mmhm.” Abby crossed her arms. “So is your work hiring? I think I need a job.”

Lily giggled. “As a matter of fact…I think I could get you a job.” She sobered slightly and sighed. “I’m not gonna lie. I’m a little worried.”

“Well, nothing is gonna happen. Because we just won’t let it. And forget him, you can find someone else.”

“Yeah! Who needs him?” Laura echoed.

Me. Oh, God, I need him. In every position in the Kama Sutra and then some. But you don’t always get what you want…